Errors cost Hot Springs in loss at De Queen

DE QUEEN -- Defensive lapses and an inability to get on base spelled doom for Hot Springs Friday night at De Queen.

The Trojans (3-4, 0-4 5A/6A-6) committed nine errors and were held to just one hit in an 11-1 loss to the Leopards (5-3, 2-2).

Senior Ben Slate singled, stole a base and later scored in the top of the first inning to give Hot Springs a quick 1-0 lead, but the momentum was short lived.

De Queen plated three runs in the bottom of the second, one run in the third and six runs in the fourth for a commanding 10-1 advantage.

While starting pitcher Mack Carver held the Trojans in check, the Leopards enacted the mercy rule with one run in the bottom of the fifth to set the final margin.

Carver pitched five innings, surrendering just one run on one hit with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Slate suffered the loss with 10 runs allowed, including nine unearned, on seven hits in four innings pitched, striking out five and issuing one walk.

Hunter Earney, Tyler Miller and Brennan Seymour each doubled for the Leopards, Earney finishing with a team-high three RBIs.

Hot Springs will host eStem (0-7, 0-4) in its first game after spring break on March 26. The Trojans resume conference play against visiting Hope (3-6, 1-3) on March 27.

LAKE HAMILTON-TEXARKANA

TEXARKANA -- Lake Hamilton had its best offensive output of the season Thursday night, but the Wolves (1-8, 0-2 5A/6A-6) were unable to keep pace in a slugfest against Texarkana.

The Razorbacks (6-5, 1-0) plated 12 runs in the first three innings and withstood Lake Hamilton's early barrage to claim a 14-9 win.

Leading 8-6 after scoring five runs in the top of the third, the Wolves surrendered eight runs over the next two frames while being held to just one run of their own in the last four innings.

One of six Lake Hamilton starters with at least two hits, Payton Winston had three singles, one walk and two RBIs in four plate appearances.

Utah Aitken, Brayden Clark, Weston Dobyns, Cole Plyler, Braden Qualls and Jace Robbins each delivered one RBI for the Wolves.

Cody Adcock and Nick Vaughn finished with three RBIs each for Texarkana, which overcame seven errors in the win.

Lake Hamilton hosts Pine Bluff (4-6, 0-0) on March 27 and travels to Russellville (3-7, 2-1) on March 28 in non-conference matchups before hosting Texarkana on March 30.

MOUNTAIN PINE-OUACHITA

DONALDSON -- Despite limiting Ouachita to just three hits in seven innings, Mountain Pine's struggles in the field led to a fourth-straight loss Thursday night.

Josh Walpole, Chad Graves and Matthew Herron combined for seven strikeouts and no earned runs in six innings on the mound, but the Red Devils (1-5, 0-1) committed 13 errors in a 10-1 loss to the Warriors (7-4, 1-0) on the road.

Trailing 5-0, Mountain Pine prevented the shutout when Asa Gatlin singled and later scored in the top of the third inning to bring the Red Devils within four runs.

Ouachita struck right back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the fifth before Dawson Jennings shut the door with two scoreless innings to end the game.

Jennings and starting pitcher John Fowler combined to allow one run on two hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts in seven innings.

Fowler and Greyson Huneycutt each delivered two RBIs for the Warriors, while Jennings and Braxton Bailey scored three runs each.

Herron and Gatlin singled for Mountain Pine's only hits, and Carter Chapman drew two walks.

The Red Devils travel to Woodlawn for games against McGehee (1-3, 0-0) and the host Bears (4-4, 0-0) on Friday.

Sports on 03/19/2018

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